RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Diversity and distribution of the last remnants of endemic juniper woodlands on Tenerife, Canary Islands
A1 Otto, Rüdiger
A1 Barone, Rubén
A1 Delgado, Juan Domingo
A1 Arévalo, José Ramón
A1 Garzón Machado, Víctor
A1 Cabrera-Rodríguez, Francisco
A1 Fernández-Palacios, José María
K1 Species richness
K1 Floristic composition
K1 GLM
K1 MRPP
K1 Thermophilous woodland
K1 Canary Islands
K1 diversidad de especies
K1 composición floristica
K1 bosque termófilo
K1 Islas Canarias
AB Identifying ecological requirements, species diversity patterns and distributionranges of habitats of interest is an important task when developing conservation andrestoration programs. The Canarian juniper woodland formed by Juniperus turbinata ssp.canariensis is listed as a priority habitat by the European Union. Although very common inthe past, this vegetation type has suffered immense destruction and degradation over thelast five centuries on the Canary Islands, especially on the largest most populated island ofTenerife. We evaluated the geographical distribution range of the last remnants ofCanarian juniper woodlands on Tenerife and analyzed their ecological status, floristiccomposition and plant species diversity. Despite the degradation of the original vegetation,we still observed outstanding species diversity. Endemic species richness and number oftypical habitat species were best predicted by summer rainfall, which seems to be thelimiting factor for this habitat in the lower drier regions. Human disturbance has had anegative effect on endemic species richness but a positive effect on the distribution of alienplants, highlighting the potential threat to this habitat. Ecological characterization andfloristic composition were most influenced by climatic factors related to the dichotomy of ahumid windward and a drier leeward slope of the island and by altitude. However, vegetationstructure and human disturbance also determined species composition. Environmentalrequirements indicated a circuminsular potential distribution of this habitat. Giventhe exceptional plant diversity, the scarcity of dense stands and the low protection status,immediate protection of the remaining stands and future restoration programs should be thepriority for conservation strategies of this endemic vegetation type.
PB Springer Netherlands
YR 2012
FD 2012
LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18341
UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/18341
LA en
NO European Commission of Environment
DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna
RD 24-abr-2024